The police, on Tuesday, commenced prosecution of the Kano State-born Yunusa Dahiru, alias Yellow, who allegedly abducted the 14-year-old Ese Oruru from Bayelsa State, converted her to Islam and forcefully married her.
Yunusa was arraigned before the Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, the state capital, amid tight security.
He is being prosecuted on a five-count charge of criminal abduction, Illicit sex, sexual exploitation and unlawful carnal knowledge.
A Special Police Prosecutor, Kenneth Dika, signed the charge sheet in a suit number FHC/YNG/17c/2016.
The charges read to Yunusa stated : “That Yunusa Dahiru a male resident in Opolo-Epie area of Yenagoa in Bayelsa State conspired with the duo of Dankano Mohammed and Mallam AlHassan between August 2015 and Febuary, 2016 to commit an offence of abduction and thereby committed offence punishable under section 27(a) of the Trafficking in persons (prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.
“That Yunusa Dahiru abducted Ese Oruru by means of coercion, transported and harboured her in Kano State and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 13(2)(b) of the Trafficking in Persons prohibition Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.
“That you Yunusa Dahiru induced Ese Oruru by the use of deception and coercion to go with you from Yenagoa to Kano State with intent that she be forced or seduced into illicit intercourse and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 15(a) of the Trafficking in persons (prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015
“That you Yunusa Dahiru procured Ese Oruru and subjected her into sexual exploitation in Kano State and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 16(1) of the Trafficking in Persons (prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.
“That you Yinusa Dahiru had unlawful carnal knowledge of Ese Oruru without her consent and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 357 of the criminal code Act and punishable under section 358 of the Criminal code ACT, Cap.C.38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
Yunusa, who wore yellow caftan and brown cap amid heavy security pleaded not guilty to the charges read to him in Pidgin English.
Efforts by a police interpreter to help the accused with indigenous Hausa Language, were resisted by the Presiding Judge, Justice H.A.Nganjiwa.
After listening to the police prosecutor and the lawyer to the accused, Kayode Olaosebikan, the judge adjourned the matter to March 14.
The judge, who said the court’s priority was to hear the case and other related motions, remanded Yunusa to prison custody till the adjourned date to hear a bail application filed by the accused lawyer.
While speaking to journalists, Olaosebikan, described the case as that of two love birds who decided to elope.
He said: “We have applied for bail and the court will rule on it on the adjourned date. The prosecutor has filed their case. It is easy for the prosecutor to pile up issues, now they have to prove it beyond reasonable doubt.
“We see the case as that of two love birds. We call it elopatic. It is case of Yunusa, an 18 years old boy in love with a 14 years old girl and they agreed to elope.”
(The Nation)
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